Crickstop

Hex 31.9. A popular stop for folks departing River Country for the Used T'Be Forest, and the best place to equip yourself for an adventure. The outpost is centered around three locations: Crickstop Merc Market, The Sword and Board, and the Turtleback Tavern. Crickstop is also a notable safe harbor for precious cargo, having a strong security force supported by both the Bogril Bulwarks and the River Watch.

The town is chock full of wagons and river boats always coming and going, and crowded with eager folk looking for work. In fact, Crickstop is one of the best places in the Mucklands to hire crews and join a caravan headed in or out of River Country.

locations

• Crickstop Merc Market (p229)
• Turtleback Tavern (p231)
• The Sword and Board (p233)

what's going on

• Crickstop is teeming with BOUNTY HUNTERS hired by Ofra Prancy for a big job.
• A strange sickness has befallen the bogril Tallie Meetra's war tortoises.
• There's a power struggle among the River Barony, and Crickstop is busy with more work than ever as the barony competes for riches.

sights and sounds

1. A boggart woman takes the temperature of a sickly looking BOGRILLIAN TORTOISE.
2. A mousey boggle in glasses plasters a wanted poster onto a bounty board.
3. A wug in overalls stands in a bread line, looking worn out and hard up for a job.
4. A welkin BOUNTY HUNTER has lunch with a boggart prisoner in shackles.
5. Two goblins unload an overladen wagon filled with dungeoneering supplies.
6. A pair of officers from the River Watch take the statement of a concerned shrym.

rumors

• Ral Grabba of The Sword and Board has a big job and not enough applicants. Rumor has it that it's dangerous, but the payout is a real pocket filler.
• The tortoises at Tallie's Tortoises are sick and getting sicker. Tallie is desperate for help.
• Captain Yarney, the welkin smuggler, is hiring a crew to set sail for Capstan on the Flightless Gooseman.
• Ofra Prancy is on a mercenary hiring spree for a legendary job. Apparently the job is so dangerous and spectacular, she's paying in Ancient Coins from her impervious starfell safe.
• A shady crowd has started frequenting the Turtleback Tavern, but Waddle the Keep is in denial.

outbound rumors

• River Baron Wyner Zolto was found dead on his boat outside of Capstan. Now the River Baron feuds are really heating up, and some say the famous BOUNTY HUNTER, Kade Kadderan, is responsible.
• Lumber shipments from Logjam have completely ceased, and no one knows why. That lumber is for more than just new river boats, it was meant for a new orphanage in Rascalton.

crickstop merc market

PCs can hire mercenaries to accompany them on their adventures. Each mercenary has a weekly fee, paid in full and upfront. If a mercenary drops to half their Courage, they must make a Mettle Check, or flee. Copper • +0 Attack and Defense. 8 Courage. -1 to all Skills outside of their specialty.

• Oggram Cragmanch, Bugbear Schlepper: +2 Might.
• Ruta Dundamor, Boggart Lookout: +2 Perception.
• Jusper Roonwing, Welkin Scientist: +2 Lore. Silver • +1 Attack and -1 Defense. 12 Courage. +0 to all Skills outside of their specialty.
• Tym the Tough, Wug Warrior: +1 Vitality and Might.
• Aster Froog, Quortle Explorer: +1 Wilderness and Realms.
• Selo, Imp Scout: +1 Sneak and Search.

OFRA PRANCY

The goblin in charge of the Crickstop Merc Market, commonly referred to as the Goon Shop. Ofra manages some of the toughest folks around: mercenaries, bounty hunters, bodyguards, and even thumb-breaking debt collectors. Prancy is always looking for muscle, pays well, and isn't afraid to tangle with gangsters and bandits.

• Traits: No nonsense, tough negotiator, likes the cut of your jib.
• Motivation: Get you out the door with a hireling no matter what.

WORREEV

A SPITHRA that coordinates passage for caravans down the Great Slog and ships up the Middle-Route Runoff. Worreev is gregarious and charming, his disarming toothy smile usually calms any fears folks might have about his many eyes and limbs.

• Traits: Gregarious, accommodating, over pronunciates “S” sounds.
• Motivation: See the world and meet interesting people.

CAPTAIN YARNEY

The welkin master of the river ship Flightless Gooseman and known as a tough privateer. Frequently employed as a smuggler, Yarney took to a life of river- crime after sustaining an injury to his wing that left him flightless. Just don't ask him how he did it, apparently he tells a different tale every time. Despite his criminal undertakings, it's well known that Captain Yarney always takes the side of “the good folk.”

• Traits: Gruff, testy, heart of gold.
• Motivation: Pay off his countless debts all over the Mucklands, by taking any job on the river he can stomach. Gold • +2 Attack and -1 Defense. +1 Block. 15 Courage. +1 to all Skills outside their speciality.
• Fellin Dae, Felmog Outrider: +2 Mettle.
• P. Flower Stringlewake, Gnome Gallivanter: +2 Tinker.
• Murgle Spittertooth, Spithra Soldier: +2 Nimbleness.

passage

PCs can pay for passage down the Great Slog or up the Middle-Route Runoff as far as Capstan. For Travel Checks, PCs use the driver/pilot's Realms (+1).

• Work as guards for the caravan. Meals provided.
• Basic passenger rate. Meals not provided. Copper •.
• Upgraded passenger rate. Meals provided. Silver •.

quests

GET KADDERAN

Ofra Prancy has got the job of a lifetime. Maybe the job of jobs for anyone looking to make a name for themselves as a bounty hunter. She's got Ancient Coins to prove it locked up in her unbreakable starfell safe. So what's the job? Easy. Get Kade Kaddernan.

• Kade Kadderan, arguably the most famous, toughest bounty hunter in the Land of Eem has a bounty on his head for the alleged murder of Baron Wyner Zolto.
• The remaining River Barons have pooled their fortunes to hire every MERCENARY, BOUNTY HUNTER, scumbag, and cutthroat to get Kade Kadderan and bring him to Capstan alive or dead.
• The reward is 20 pouches of Ancient Coins, the kind of fortune that would transform anyone into a River Baron.
• Kade Kadderan the BOUNTY HUNTER (L10-C) is a formidable warrior, brilliant tactician, veteran detective, and the kind of guy that doesn't take any guff. Armed with an array of armor, weaponry, and equipment, including his iconic batwing helmet.
• Kade Kadderan is lying low at Pandor's Cider House in Bogtown (see quest The Fang p77).

THE PELICAN THIEF

Baron Wyner Zolto has been murdered, some say by none other than the famous Kade Kadderan. Captain Yarney has no opinion on the matter other than the fact that Zolto's ship, The Pearly Pelican, is now up for grabs. Before long every rascal for a hundred miles will be after the loot in that ship, and Yarney's not going to putter around. Plan a heist and loot Zolto's riverboat. Yarney will get you to Capstan, but you'll be responsible for robbing The Pearly Pelican.

• The Pearly Pelican is docked in Baron's Quay (p189), guarded by Baron Lankershiv's MERCENARIES. Baron Lankershiv is in the process of stealing the loot for himself, before the other River Barons arrive to divide it up between them equally.
• Perception Check: A group of MERCENARIES (6xL4-G, 1xL4-B) are hauling out a large ornate chest onto another barge. Lankershiv has planted a fake treasure chest inside The Pearly Pelican.
• Following the barge leads to a Felmog boat, and a meeting with an Outrider called Ursalo. Ursalo trades for the chest with 12 pouches of Gold Coins. When he opens Zolto's chest, Ursalo is visibly shaken; it contains the broken inert bones of a LICH, all in a pile with a grinning skull.
• Ursalo intends to take the LICH bones to Vaddarak the Witch-Knight at the Obelisk of Zar in the Drippy Downs (p40). There, Vaddarak awaits his agents to bring him profane Relics to help him achieve immortality. Vaddarak rewards Ursalo handsomely for the bones, as they contain much of the Gloom King's sorcery.
• HEROIC TITLE ACHIEVEMENT: Stop Ursalo from delivering the lich bones to Vaddarak.
• Thwarter of Dark Designs•. PC is reviled by the Felmog Outriders, especially FELMOG KNIGHTS, but gains +2 Dread against them.

turtleback tavern

BOGRILLIAN TORTOISES line the streets as travelers wet their whistles at Turtleback Tavern. The establishment is named for its unusual architecture, its roof being the shell of a long dead, prehistoric turtle that was discovered near Quortlen some years ago.

turtleback tavern menu

Copper •

• Plappadoot Soup: A creamy, warm winter soup (served year round) with roasted knots of herb- rubbed plappadoot and served with a sprig of rosemary for aroma. Heal 2 Courage.
• Flaming Peat Ale: Served literally on fire, this mug of dark ale is a local favorite where folks have taken the phrase “blow the froth off a couple” to a fiery new level. Grants +1 to a chosen roll during the session.

WADDLE THE KEEP

A portly bogril who owns and operates the Turtleback Tavern. Deciding to pursue a quiet life after serving twenty years in the Bulwarks, the old bogril opened up Turtleback after discovering the giant shell and thinking it would make a great attraction. Waddle was right, Turtleback is always busy.

• Traits: Relaxed, nonstop storyteller, insists you take off your coat.
• Motivation: Make new friends to enjoy his retirement with.

MOIRA LAZZARD

Waddle's wug bouncer at the Turtleback, not that the place ever gets very rough. Moira is a former BOUNTY HUNTER who spends more time making rascal cider orders and sweeping up peanut shells than bouncing, but she loves the work. Like Waddle, she enjoys a quiet life now, or she would, if she weren't also a Tricky Toe informant.

• Traits: Guarded, friendly enough, eavesdropper.
• Motivation: Report enough profitable info to the Tricky Toe Gang to retire for real.

TALLIE MEETRA

Owner of Tallie's Tortoises, she's a tough lady in her eighties that knows more about BOGRILLIAN WAR TORTOISES than anyone in the Land of Eem. She's no gnome, just your average bogril, but rumor has it she speaks the language of tortoises and is privy to the mysterious world of tortoise culture. Tallie has forearms like wurlwoods and once unsaddled a Felmog Knight with her lance during a joust she calls “just friendly debate.” When she's not at her tortoise ranch she's usually talking with Waddle in the tavern.

• Traits: Humble, caring, protective of her tortoises.
• Motivations: Get everyone to care about BOGRILLIAN TORTOISES, as she believes they're the noblest creatures in Eem.
• Keisterclam Chowder: A hearty, tangy clam chowder, slow cooked for several hours and served in a bowl of nutty wheat bread. PC can hold their breath for 5 minutes for the session.
• Tortoise Soup (No tortoise meat. Just a vegetable medley that BOGRILLIAN TORTOISES love!): Knight- Errants with tortoise mounts gain +1 to mount- related Checks for the session.
• Fried Saberfish Spears: Fried strips of flakey saberfish served with vinegary pickle chips on a bed of golden fries. Gain +1 to swimming related Checks for 1 day.

LADY SHAREEN

A shrym with piercing yellow eyes, and leader of the Soot Finger Gang, a thieves guild known for pickpockets and cat burglars. She wears a black cloak and cowl, and often holds secret meetings in the tavern.

• Traits: Secretive, bewitching, deadly if you cross her.
• Motivations: Build up the Soot Finger Gang to rival the Tricky Toes.

quests

THE SICK CRICK

The BOGRILLIAN TORTOISES are ill, and many are close to dying, but no one knows why. Tallie Meetra, owner of Tallie's Tortoises, has a theory though: the polluted waterways. Help her find the source of the pollution and put a stop to it. In return, she can help train a Knight-Errant's tortoise mount, or sell tortoise mounts at a reduced price.

• A new bridge was just built east of Crickstop and the TROLL there, Pilmo Slabfist (L6-B), is sick with Murble Mold. Its spores are working their way downriver into where the tortoises graze on the river grass.
• Murble Mold is a rare fungus that TROLLS often contract from the toads in Murbletoad Marsh far to the northwest of the Mucklands. TROLLS that suffer from Murble Mold become wooly and shaggy with yellow-green, moldy moss. They also become aggressive due to the non-stop itch.
• Tallie's Tortoises: Usually Ancient •, but she'll charge the PCs Gold •x2. A tortoise has 12 Inventory Slots and floats on the water. It needs 2 helpings of Animal Feed per day.
• Tallie Meetra's tortoise training: Knight-Errant PC gains +1 to relevant Wilderness Checks involving their tortoise mount.

THE ORB

The Soot Finger Gang has ruffled the wrong feathers. One of their THIEVES stole a powerful orb from the sorcerer Zhal'dir at the Stone (p355). Return it without anyone knowing, and Lady Shareen will pay you a Guild Coin.

• Lady Shareen is lying. The orb was never in the possession of Zhal'dir. Shareen wants to spy on the SORCERER because the orb is part of a pair of scrying devices: the orb on her end will allow her to extract valuable secrets from the Felmog.
• Shareen is actually being paid by Unassailable Co. who want to know Felmog's dealings with the sarpathi, among other things.
• Zhal'dir dwells in a high tower in the Stone. The winding stairs seem to ascend for far too long if one doesn't know the trick of finding Zhal'dir's chambers: the password “Broken King” ends the magic illusion and reveals his door.
• PCs could possibly climb or fly to the top window of the tower, but Felmog GUARDS (L2-B) with crossbows keep watch all across the battlements of the Stone.
• Even when Zhal'dir is away speaking with Countess Feoria, his loyal IMP FAMILIAR named Furga'mel keeps watch over his chambers.

BARREL FOR THE RASCALS

Every so often, Waddle the Keep sends a barrel of special cinnamon rascal cider to the Rascals. And it looks like today's the day. Waddle offers to pull a favor with the Bogril Bulwarks on your behalf, in return for delivering the barrel since his usual guy is out sick.

• Strangely, the barrel has a glowing mark on it that Waddle can't explain if asked. A rune or glyph, in the shape of a violet X. He thinks little of it.
• A witch could reveal that the barrel is hexed, though not by a witch, definitely from a scroll or book. Anyone who drinks this cider will burp forever, horribly incapacitated by gassiness.
• Presented with this information, Waddle recalls a short, stocky goblin named Nackmar that came into the Turtleback with a bag of books and scrolls. The barkeep didn't think anything of it at the time, but the goblin was on their way to Capstan (p189).
• Nackmar is a professional mischief maker hired by the Tricky Toe Gang to meddle with the Rascals so the gang could take control of Rascalton.
• Nackmar got the tip to hex the rascal cider barrel from Moira Lazzard, who is secretly a Tricky Toe informant!

the sword and board

A big kiosk tower in the middle of Crickstop where folks line up to buy gear and find work. Ral Grabba owns and operates The Sword and Board, leaning over potential jobbers from his elevated stand with a skeptical eye.

RAL GRABBA

The owner of The Sword and Board, the best place to find work in River Country. Ral is a well-connected goblin that's got hundreds of positions to choose from, should you be up to the task.

• Traits: Hems and haws, wheeler and dealer, skips important details.
• Motivation: Find a job for every single person in Crickstop.

PIPLI

An imp clerk who handles all the gear, as she's the only one who can reach the inventory high up in the tower. She figures one day she'll take the chance to become a full-time adventurer, but for now she's paying the bills here.

• Traits: Flirty, big grin, adventurous.
• Motivation: Save enough money to go on a grand adventure.

quests

RAL'S JOB BOARD

Ral Grabba has a bunch of jobs that need strong arms and sharp minds.

• Escort a merchant caravan down the Middle-Route Run to Grimly Wood. Pays 2 pouches of Silver Coins.
• Provide security for a merchant vessel up the Middle-Route Runoff to Capstan. Pays 1 pouch of Silver Coins.
• Head to Plunge Pike Logging Camps and assist the Lumberjack Jilly with some giant problems. Pays 1 pouch of Copper Coins per PC.
• Logjam is in dire need of lumberjacks who've been leaving the mill in droves. Pays 1 pouch of Copper Coins per PC. But for all his hemming and hawing, no one walks away without a job or the right gear for said job. The Sword and Board has every Mundane item in stock for Copper •.

THE HUNTED MUNCH

Ral Grabba has a special escort job involving royalty, and needs seasoned professionals. The noble boggart, Blandy Munch XVI, fourth cousin on his mother's side, and eighth in line to the throne of Munch in Fleabag County needs an escort to get back home. After Blandy's chariot broke down just outside of Crickstop, he tried to lay low because there's a price on his head. That's when Ral got word from Munch that the royal family will fill the pockets of anyone who brings Blandy safely home.

• Blandy believes a shadowy organization is trying to snuff out the Munch family and he's just one of several Munch royals that are on the hit list.
• Bounty hunters are searching for Blandy in every settlement, so stopping in towns is highly dangerous.
• Travel Checks while escorting Blandy suffer Disadvantage, and there's a 4-in-6 chance that Perilous and Dangerous encounters are BOUNTY HUNTERS.
• In fact, King Munch's advisor Slek Slorgood, is the one plotting against Blandy (p108).
• If returned without a scratch, King Munch pays the PCs 2 pouches of Gold Coins for their troubles. If Blandy suffered any Dread, Slek Slorgood convinces the King to only pay 1 pouch of Silver Coins.